Dear
all
our
employees use various various vibratory tools including dynabrade grinders,
desoutter pneumatic sanders, angle grinders and spindle belt
sanders.
our
guidelines are as follows:
at
early stage 2, employees should be reviewed on a six monthly basis. If
there is no change in their condition after the second six monthly review, they
should revert to annual review. Rapidly progressing or late stage 2 upward
cases should be advised to cease vibration exposure. At late stage 2 the
employee should be reviewed at 6 weeks from the last review to ensure that the
recommendations on vibration exposure has been followed.
Following annual HAVS surveillance the following
criteria is used for deciding those individuals who should be considered for
more detailed tests at the HAVS centre. All cases are first discussed by
OH with the Occupational Physician.
Suspected new cases
Rapidly progressing symptoms or
disability
Upper
stage 2 cases (sensorineural or vascular)
All
stage 3 cases.
In my
experience the employees perception on how long they use vibratory tools, and
the actual time of vibration exposure vary considerably. When questioned on
screening employees tend to state 8 hours a day, but on further questioning e.g.
break times, job rotation etc the time spent using vibratory tools is much
less.
The
use of tachometers as mentioned by Lindsey has left me intrigued, would love to
try this in my workplace!
[Smith,
Pat]
-----Original Message-----
From:
david mills [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 12 November 2003
08:44
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject:
HAVS
Dear All
Been to a medico-legal thing on HAVs in Liverpool
recently.
I wondered what other peoples practice is concerning
employees who reach stage 2 in Stockholm.
How many people restrict or remove from exposure at
this stage?
How many people routinely organise physiological
testing, and if so what do they do with the results?
How many people actually get accurate exposure
details from the employers?
General views would be very
welcome